Scientist Presents Findings On Collbran Landslide

A new study will be presented at a summit of the Geological Society of America about the Collbran landslide. KVNF’s Jake Ryan talked with the study’s author about what made this slide so different.

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An interview with the paper's author, Jeff Coe.

The toe of the landslide

Credit Mesa County Sheriff's Office

The landslide happened three months ago. Jeff Coe is a geologist with the US Geological Survey, and he’s been working with a few other groups to monitor the slide since then. A abstract of their findings can be seen here.

Last week the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission met with industry members and scientists to look at the current state of the slide.

"When this earth flow failed, a large mound of disturbed bedrock had rotated back and created a large depression. There's a pond in there now," said Jonathan White, a senior engineering geologist for the Colorado Geological Survey.

West Salt Creek used to flow through the valley, but now that runoff just feeds this pond, held back only by loose soil and debris.